# What TV series should I Netflix now? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 14, 2007, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412 "2007-11-14T20:12:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2007, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/21 "2007-11-14T21:23:27Z")
[QUOTE=Revtim] I’ve been watching _Twin Peaks_ and enjoying it quite a bit. That might be an acquired taste though. [/QUOTE] For another cop show that isn’t a cop show, why not give _Police Squad_ a shot? At a measly 6 30 minute episodes, it won’t take up too much valuable TV time. It might be an acquired taste though 😃 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2007, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/22 "2007-11-14T21:33:28Z")
[QUOTE=Tapioca Dextrin] For another cop show that isn’t a cop show, why not give _Police Squad_ a shot? At a measly 6 30 minute episodes, it won’t take up too much valuable TV time. It might be an acquired taste though 😃 [/QUOTE] Great suggestion and at most only 132 minutes wasted. (Maybe some extras) ---
**Author:** ![Garfield226](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Garfield226](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Garfield226)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2007, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/23 "2007-11-14T21:34:06Z")
If you liked the Aaron Sorkin-created West Wing, try Sports Night, his previous effort. Just two seasons, but there’s definitely character development and multi-episode plotlines, though these are not abundant. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2007, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/24 "2007-11-14T21:48:06Z")
My vote is for **The Shield.** Great writing and still my favorite show of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2007, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/25 "2007-11-14T21:48:23Z")
_Twin Peaks, Northern Exposure_, and _Sports Night_ are all excellent suggestions and I say that because I’ve seen them all and loved them. So you’re on the right track. I also have liked _Scrubs_, but not enough to watch the whole series start to finish. For whatever reason, I have no interest in _Coupling_. Not sure I could tell you why. Comparing it to _Friends_, however favorably, is not an encouraging endorsement either 🙂 _Firefly_ is probably good for me to do first, because it is so short. Can someone confirm for me whether or not _Rome_ and _The Wire_ are done, or are they still going? That would narrow down my choices. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2007, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/26 "2007-11-14T21:50:09Z")
I know that Rome is over. It ended with only two seasons under its belt. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2007, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/27 "2007-11-14T21:59:45Z")
[QUOTE=Skammer] For whatever reason, I have no interest in _Coupling_. Not sure I could tell you why. Comparing it to _Friends_, however favorably, is not an encouraging endorsement either 🙂 [/QUOTE] It really is nothing like Friends, I and apparently \*\*Bayard \*\* have seen the comparison made. It is a bad comparison. Coupling is unique; it plays with the sitcom story telling conventions all the time. It is closer to Northern Exposure than Friends. The writer has also written some of the best new Doctor Who episodes. I cannot compare it well to another show, as I really haven’t seen any other sitcom like it. Jim ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2007, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/28 "2007-11-14T21:59:56Z")
The Wire is still going. I think they’ll repeat season 4 starting in December, and season 5 shortly after. Season 5 is the end. I don’t think it was “cancelled” though. AFAIK, David Simon and company pretty much decided to end it. It’s also on BET, but maybe not in its original form, what with language and sex and violence and commercials and stuff. I haven’t watched any episodes on BET – so I’m just guessing it’s been altered. Each season has a different arc. The first was the drug trade and police/government corruption, two took us to the docks, three is back with drugs, politics and corruption but with some new characters and a different story (what if drugs were legalized), four (which I haven’t seen) tackles schools, and five deals with journalism and the media. Unlike The Sopranos, The Wire has characters you can root for without feeling guilty. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2007, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/29 "2007-11-14T22:08:50Z")
[QUOTE=AuntiePam] Unlike The Sopranos, The Wire has characters you can root for without feeling guilty. 🙂 [/QUOTE] Awwww, you mean when Paulie killed that old lady, I was supposed to feel guilty about liking him? :smack: But she was so mean to his ma! ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2007, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/30 "2007-11-14T22:58:35Z")
[QUOTE=Lakai] I want to watch Buffy, but at eight seasons it looks daunting. [/QUOTE] So just watch the first 5 (or 4 1/2 as Aesiron said) seasons. You’ll thank me later. And I second the recommendation of the first 4 seasons of _Northern Exposure._ ---
**Author:** ![merrily](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@merrily](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/merrily)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2007, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/31 "2007-11-14T23:06:55Z")
Have you seen Sports Night? I got it from Netflix based on recommendations here. Netflix describes it thusly: > [@](#): > > Aaron Sorkin’s critically acclaimed sitcom ran on ABC for two seasons, offering a witty behind-the-scenes look at the production of a TV show. It was sort of his starter series, and has a lot to offer, not to mention nice 20-minute episodes (half hour without commericials). Of course, I loved Firefly so much I have my Joss Rules teeshirt. ---
**Author:** ![tomh987](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@tomh987](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomh987)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2007, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/32 "2007-11-14T23:37:17Z")
The Wire. The Wire. The Wire. It is exactly the type of show that you described: > [@](#): > > It should be well-written, and interesting. I like shows that have multiple-episode story arcs and measurable character development. Many of the story arcs carry forward throughout the entire season, but the story lines do not drag out to a point of frustration. Instead each season is like a novel and each episode is like a chapter. Eventually you will get to a point where, like a good book, you will have to just stay up late and finish it because you can’t put it down. I’m jealous because I wish I could watch it again for the first time. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/33 "2007-11-15T00:14:30Z")
[QUOTE=Flander] My vote is for **The Shield.** Great writing and still my favorite show of all time. [/QUOTE] Seconded. Actually prefer it to _The Wire_ and _The Sopranos_, I think, if push came to shove. ---
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/34 "2007-11-15T00:27:31Z")
Titus; starring Christopher Titus A Fox TV show from a few years back, that I personally think was way ahead of its time. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/35 "2007-11-15T01:21:58Z")
Oh, speaking of shows that were ahead of their time–the Fox series “Greg the Bunny.” It moved to IFC, but the first season on Fox was the one I saw. It was quite hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/36 "2007-11-15T01:24:08Z")
Just weighing in to say my favorite TV series of all time is _Homicide: Life on the Streets_. So I strongly recommend that one. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/37 "2007-11-15T01:35:42Z")
[QUOTE=Skammer] dark humor is fine. I also like shows that are quirky. Short-lived series are good, too, and won’t take me as long to get through. [/QUOTE] **It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia**. Very dark, very quirky. Not sure about character development, though. Okay, I am sure. they are jerks and will stay jerks, but they’re damn funny. First season is pure gold. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/38 "2007-11-15T02:00:49Z")
_Six Feet Under_ was a great show, but it’s not all that short. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/39 "2007-11-15T02:03:31Z")
**The Wire** is (imho) the best TV show ever. So you should certainly watch it at some point. Which doesn’t necessarily mean you should watch it now, as season 4 isn’t out on DVD yet, and season 5 hasn’t been broadcast yet. I second: **Firefly** **Buffy** (skip season 1 entirely, or maybe watch 3 or 4 selected episodes) **SportsNight** **Rome** **Deadwood** and suggest: **Veronica Mars** , which is in some ways like Buffy without the supernatural trappings, and a bit more consistent. Not _quite_ as high highs, but also not the wavery and inconsistent first season. Smart, fun, engaging, with an incredibly satisfying first season story arc. and, if no one else has suggested it, **Six Feet Under** ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2007, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412/40 "2007-11-15T02:11:04Z")
I 3rd or whatever Northern Exposure. That is the one I have been doing for the last few months and it is amazing. It has aged as little as any series that age possibly can. It is very character driven, quirky, and very unique. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-tv-series-should-i-netflix-now/426412.md?page=3)